The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Ms. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo before Honourable Justice Akobi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Kubwa, over alleged forgery of official documents and visa fraud.
According to an official statement signed by the ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the arraignment, which took place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, followed a four-count charge filed by the Commission under Charge No. CR/577/25 Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo (F).
The prosecution alleged that Ms. Ojo, sometime in 2019 within the FCT, forged a marriage certificate bearing registration number 024119/2017, purportedly issued by a Nigerian marriage registry, and fraudulently used it to support her United Kingdom (UK) visa application.
She was also accused of falsifying entry and exit stamps of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on her international passport, which she presented as genuine to strengthen her visa documentation.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences contravene Sections 363 and 366 and are punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation, which deal with forgery and the fraudulent use of forged documents.
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo, in 2019 or thereabouts, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently present as genuine a forged marriage certificate purportedly emanating from Ikoyi Marriage Registry, Ikoyi-Lagos, when you had reason to believe it to be a forged document, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation.”
During the court proceedings, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all four counts and was represented by her counsel, C. A. Owo Ekele.
Lead prosecution counsel, Barrister Fatima Abdullahi of the ICPC, informed the court that the Commission was ready to proceed to trial and sought a date for the hearing. In response, the defence counsel applied for bail on liberal terms.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Akobi granted bail to the defendant in the sum of ₦2 million with two sureties in like sum. The court ruled that one of the sureties must be a public servant not below Grade Level 15, while the second must be a resident of Abuja with a family and possess landed property within the FCT, backed by a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
The court also directed that the sureties attach photocopies of their passports and the C of O documents to the bail application for verification. Justice Akobi further ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Suleja Correctional Centre pending the fulfillment of her bail conditions.
The ICPC reiterated its commitment to working closely with relevant embassies and international partners to curb visa-related fraud and other forms of document forgery. The Commission noted that such offences undermine Nigeria’s global image and vowed to continue pursuing offenders to ensure justice is served.
“The Commission remains resolute in addressing emerging trends in document forgery and cross-border corruption, especially those linked to international travel and migration processes,” the statement added.
